Endurance Test of Diesel Engine Fueled with Tamanu Oil (Calophyllum inophyllum L.).

Abstract

Tamanu oil is one of alternative fuel for diesel engine which has close characteristics to diesel fuel. However, the viscosity of tamanu oil is much higher than petroleum diesel fuel, so it is necessary to lower down its viscosity for better atomization in fuel injection to get better combustion process. From previous research, diesel engine can operate well with pre-heated tamanu oil fuel in a short period. The objective of this study was to test the endurance of diesel engine with tamanu oil as its fuel. After endurance test, carbon deposit in engine component and lubricating oil quality were analyzed. An 8 HP diesel engine mounted to an electric generator and operated using tamanu oil for 50 hours with 2 kW load. The results showed that component of diesel engine such as piston, cylinder head, and injector still work well and seems normally. Specific fuel consumption for petroleum diesel fuel was 0.34 l/HP/hour and for tamanu oil fuel was 0.44 l/HP/hour. The weight of carbon on the diesel engine components when using tamanu oil fuel was 23.51% lower than using petroleum diesel fuel. The viscosity, total base number (TBN), and sulfated ash content of lubricating oil after 50 hours operation were 13.93 cSt, 1.063 mg KOH/g, 1.19 %weight for petroleum diesel fuel, and 15.57 cSt, 1.258 mg KOH/g, 1.42 %weight for tamanu oil fuel. The analysis of metal content showed that tamanu oil fuel resulted higher friction and wear, due to metal content of Fe, Cu, and Al exceed the maximum standard. FTIR (Fourier Transform Infra Red) analysis showed that soot content, oxidation, nitration, and sulfation of lubricating oil when using tamanu oil fuel are higher than using petroleum diesel fuel, but still below the allowable standard limit. It shows that lubricating oil contamination from fuel and combustion process residu when using tamanu oil fuel are higher than using petroleum diesel fuel. Regression analysis of lubricating oil properties shows that lubricating oil when using tamanu oil fuel have shorter life than using petroleum diesel fuel.